The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-02-25
A BABY oRANc.


He Was So Knowing That He Mover Had
Any Name Hut the "Old Man"
Mr. Hornaday. the chief taxidermisI
of the National Museum at Washing
ton, who spent two years in the jungles
Of India and Borneo. in the search fol
specimens Of natural history. gives a
most interesting account Of baby
orang-outang which he possessed. The
little fellow was about six months old
when he was brought to Mr.. Hornaday
by some natives, and was Of mild and
gentle disposition. very different from
other young ones which fell into his
hands from time to time. and became
at once confding. whining softly when
approached, and rolling up his big
brown eyes appealingly.
Judged by our standard Of human
beauty" his owner says. The was per-
haps as ugly as any healthy child could
be and live; but for all that. his home
illness was interesting; it seemed to
conform to general plan Of ugliness.
and nothing was lacking to make it per-
feet"
His eyes were large. bright, and full
of intelligence, and he had the forehead
of philosopher. and because Of his
bald and shiny pate, his solemn.
wrinkled. melancholy visage. and an
air Of profound gravity. he never had
any other name given him than odd
Man"
His height was about p inches. his
spread Of arms 3fi inches. and his
weight 1Oi pounds. With a short. thick
body, his arms were so long and his
legs so short that by STOPPING forward
little his hands easily touched the
ground. In walking he always went
on all-fours, turning his toes under.
and placing the back of the fingers and
the ball of the thumb on the ground.
His gait was that Of man going on
crutches. and he seemed quite out Of
his element on the ground, but in
climbing. his feats were wonderful.
He very soon learned to climb up
his masters body, to get banana,
placed on his shoulder. and soon be-
came fond Of being held in his arms;
and when Mr.. Hornaday was tired Of
holding him, he grasped the folds Of
his flannel shirt and hung on himself
quite different from human babies Of
the same age Next TO eating seven or
eight bananas As fast as he could his
greatest delight seemed 10 be in lying
in his masters lap. sprawling out with
legs and arms. and catching at every
thing within reach.
Sometimes at dinner he would sud-
denly seize roast fowl. and have his
teeth In IL before he could be stopped.
like spoiled child Of three or four
years. Sometimes he watched his mas
ter eating, squatted on the topmost
round Of his chair. leaning forward
and resting his chin on his owners
shoulder. For . long time he would
eat nothing but bananas and sugar
cane, and Mr.. Hornaday was at his
wits ends to teach him to eat boiled
rice, which was necessary in travelling.
when they could not be sure Of fruit.
Finally. as he was watching over the
one day. he began to open
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